I received a copy of the audiobook version of Matthew Ward's War of the World Records--great title!--months ago and just recently found myself going on a 10-hour car trip, thus making it possible for me to listen to most of this book at one time. Having never before listened to a "book on tape," I was surprised by how different the experience is from reading. Namely, I didn't realize that driving along unfamiliar roads, through construction zones and detours, in bad weather, and in other such conditions would make it quite difficult to follow a narrated story: if you miss an important passage (due to focusing on driving), then you're playing catch-up with trying to figure out what's going on. (I suppose one could rewind; but glancing back at text is so much less disruptive than repeating content that you've heard already, for want of having missed a number or a name or some other such detail.) Also, when text is narrated, I found it easier to notice extraneous or otherwise unnecessary details: for narrated stories of this ilk, what seems to matter most is the plotline. Material that diverges from carrying the narrative thread forward seems somehow uninteresting (when narrated).

But, general comments about the nature of the genre aside, the story was fun--certainly an imaginative storyline. (It reminded me of Lemony Snicket, with elements of books involving other hyper-contrived universes.) I'm not sure that it's appropriate for children as young as 8: skeletons found along the beach, attempted murder (and murderous clowns), carnivorous lizards, explosions and fires, abductions and kidnappings, and those sorts of plot-propellants fuel the storyline. In short, it's the type of book that seems to be written both for children and their parents. Some of the themes are heartwarming, though: striving for excellence, being different from everyone else, understanding the importance of family. The book seemed to end about five different times (in the penultimate and final chapters, though)--I suppose I was used to holding a physical book in my hands and thus knowing how close I am to the end at all times (not as easy to know with an audiobook). Ultimately, it sets up the next book in the series quite directly.

A note on the narrator: Although some of the English accents were fine, I was not convinced by the Scottish, German, Russian, South Asian, or American accents. Again, I'm new to the genre of the audiobook, so perhaps these performances were at or even above the norm--for this type of book.

Overall, I enjoyed the story--and it did make a long drive pass more quickly. I'll likely borrow a copy of the precursor (as a physical book, not audiobook), The Fantastic Family Whipple, from the local library and may even revisit this audiobook after I've read the first book in the series.

I found this book to be really long - especially the beginning. After listening for a while, you begin to find out that this story doesn't build toward some great finale, but is more like several small episodes that finally come together at the end of the book.
The children seem to be a creation of of their families, and in the end of the story you find that it is really true. In this book is danger, competition, silliness, and even a little love. It is a strange book that I am still not completely sure I would read again. ( )

This is a very fun book! I love the characters and how they interact with each other. Arthur has a great family and friend and Ruby's family are great antagonists. I can't wait to see what the next adventure! ( )

The story is a little puzzling at first, if you haven't read the first title in the series. Nevertheless, it is entertaining from the very first, full of a tongue in cheek sense of humor that has you eagerly anticipating the next quip. The narrator is excellent in the audiobook, and he reads it in such a way that each character has his or her own voice. ( )

This was not a series I could get into. I found the characters rather thin, the exploits a little frivolous, and random bouts of somewhat distressing racial stereotyping left me cold. I don't think I'll keep with this series if there are more volumes. ( )

I won this book as part of the Early Reviewers program. This book was a fun story about two families who try to out do each other in world records. Everyone in each family is a world record holder of many world records except Arthur Whipple and Ruby Goldwin. These two find a friendship where they both investigate crimes against the Whipple family. The Goldwins and the Whipples don't get along which makes for some tense times. This book is fun, entertaining and funny. I would recommend it to anyone. ( )

Imagine a world where Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events collided with William Joyce's Meet the Robinsons. That's about what you'd get with the Fantastic Family Whipple, a family that holds the most world records. However, an up-and-coming family, the Goldwins, is seeking to displace the Whipples' hold on their records, all the while mysterious events are nearly taking Whipple lives. It is up to the record-lacking son, Arthur, and his new-found friend, Ruby Goldwin, daughter of the rival family. Together, they must uncover the mysteries surrounding the sabotage, all while helping Arthur to finally achieve a world record.

The book itself is obviously part of a larger series (being that it's the second book, something I did not initially realize), which is apparent by the fact that much of the final act of the book is simply setting the scene for the next book in the series. The book was entertaining, and quirky enough to keep the attention of someone who might have trouble paying attention for as long as the book was (the audiobook was 11 hours long, about as long as The Hobbit).

I recommend this book if you're a fan of quirky children's literature, especially A Series of Unfortunate Events. It felt, at times, that this book took place right next door to Snicket's, or at least in the UK-equivalent. ( )

War of the World Records is an entertaining fantasy about a rivalry between two families who spend their time striving to be record holders in a variety of different activities. Written for children there is still an interesting plot and humor that an adult could enjoy the story. The story has mystery, humor, and adventure all surrounding the central theme of record breaking and family. You'll never look at world records in the same way after reading this story as everything can be a world record it seems. The two main characters are the ones who lack the family talent for record breaking, but are most in tune to solving the mystery as well as being from rival families. The story begins a bit slowly, but as the mystery and the circumstances of the story unfold becomes more engaging. There is a good moral to the story though for an adult this might be excessively pointed out. The story leads to the next book with an additional mystery. ( )